Thursday, April 24, 2008

Being a family man...


...I've become partial to roomy vehicles. My current family mover, the Pontiac Montana is alright, for now. Which brings me to the wagon of all wagons, the Nissan Stagea.

It's latest incarnation, the M35, is pretty sedate and included a change from the RB series engine to the VQ. Available with either a 2.5l or 3.0l V6, and certain variants made 4wd and HICAS available.

The WC34 ran from 1996-1998 as Series 1 models, and 1998-2001 as Series 2. Series 1's had the RB series engine, in a 2.0l and 2.5l capacity. Models were available in 2wd and 4WD similar to the GTR's. Series 2 models got a mild face lift, the NEO derivative of the RB engines and again available in 2 or 4wd. The big dog, the Autech 260RS Stagea, was available with the 280 HP RB26DETT and the ATESSA-ETS AWD system lifted from the Skyline GTR. IT was also equipped with Brembo brakes.



An interesting version was the JDM-Option Magazines R33 GTR based project car, the Speed Wagon.
One of my all time favorites, and I'm not much of a fan of conversions, is a R34 GTR converted 260RS, a "real" R43 GTR Wagon,

The Stagea ended it's run in June 2007,
putting a cap on yet another of my favorite Nissans. Who know's, maybe someday, we'll see the return of the 260RS...


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